Carnell retires from the 'old-age home'

After an 18-year career, including nine in the Bundesliga and 42 international caps, Bradley Carnell has hung up his boots.

Following a mediocre return to the Premier Soccer League with SuperSport United last season, playing just 12 games, the club opted not to take an option for another year on his contract. The left back has decided against looking for another team.

"In a meeting with (SuperSport COO) Jose Ferreira a few months back I said: 'look, if I don't re-sign for whatever reason, I can see myself packing it in'," Carnell said this week.

"There were other options but to pick up after moving here a year ago, logistically I didn't want to do that to my family, starting the kids at new schools and everything."

Carnell, who played for Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs before 12 years in Germany, mostly with VfB Stuttgart and Karlsruher SC, hints that press criticism of SuperSport as an "old- age home" last season influenced his decision.

"I built up a reputation over 18 years and if I tried to squeeze out another year, it just seems to leave a sour taste to the whole process.

"I would rather leave the game with a reputation where people remember me for the good, rather than not being honest with yourself. And feeling that, look, I'm not as motivated any more - the knocks and the body are starting to ache.

"And do you really want to put yourself through this and actually at some level humiliate yourself?"

Carnell said a Bafana Bafana career that spanned 14 years had its up and downs.

"There are not as many caps as one would have expected - my goal was to get to 50 and in the end I reached 42.

"Obviously, there were many highs too - the Mali Nations Cup in 2004, 2002 World Cup, and playing France."

The now ex-defender, who lives in Meyersdal, south Johannesburg, is going into business in a partnership with a media, marketing and event company.

"There's a lot of learning of the corporate lifestyle, but surviving as a footballer alone overseas is like running a business so it's not that I'm lacking in experience in that department," he said.